Ethylene and grape berry ripening

Nathalie Mailhac (1) , Christian Chervin (2)

1 ESAP - Ecole supérieure d'agriculture de Purpan
2 GBF - Génomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits

*Purpose of the review: The involvement of ethylene in fruit ripening has been the subject of intensive molecular and biochemical studies over the last twenty years. Whereas new methods and new genes are being discovered, the differences between climacteric and non climacteric fruit seem to decrease. Recent studies are showing potential roles for ethylene signals in grape berry ripening. *Main findings: Ethylene seems to be involved in some changes that occur during the grape berry ripening, the final step of berry development. The whole ethylene production pathway seems activated at the inception of the grape berry ripening, the veraison. Treatments with exogenous ethylene stimulate the long term expression of genes related to the anthocyanin synthesis. Ethylene signals are also involved in the regulation of vascular fluxes and acid content. The ethylene may also been involved in some steps of aroma production, modulated by alcohol dehydrogenases. *Directions for future research: These findings could help to further unravel the differences between climacteric and non-climacteric fruit. In the future, whole genome sequencing and computer analyses will surely provide new tools to complete our knowledge of ethylene involvement in the ripening of these two categories of fruit. Regarding the economic importance of fruit ripening and preservation, this knowledge is crucial.

Mots clés: Ethylene; Grape; Vitis vinifera; Climacteric; Signalling; Anthocyanin; Vascular flux; Acidity; Methylcyclopropene

Domaines: Biologie végétale; Biotechnologies

Nathalie Mailhac, Christian Chervin. Ethylene and grape berry ripening. Stewart Postharvest Review, 2006, 2 (2), pp.1-5. ⟨10.2212/spr.2006.2.7⟩. ⟨hal-03608216⟩